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Q & A with Tony Riffel of Octane Coffee

Q. For people who aren’t familiar with Octane, how would you describe your coffee?

A. Octane is a hand-crafted coffee experience. We source, roast, prepare, and serve some of the finest coffees available. Our baristas go through a rigorous in-house certification prior to serving drinks to customers. We have competed in regional, national, and international coffee and barista related competitions. All that said, we really just love to make coffee, cocktails, etc. and have fun learning as much as we can.

Q. You’ve gone beyond the idea of a coffee shop and added a bar component. What lead to the decision?

A. We feel that someone who enjoys a great coffee also enjoys an amazing beer or cocktail. Our bar is an extension of our values on the coffee side of things. Our bar has a classic cocktail theme along with a strong craft beer selection and a small selection of wines from boutique vineyards. Our goal is to provide an amazing experience, so we focus on a small, well thought out and interesting selection.

Tips & Advice

Making Coffee At Home

1. Keep it simple. Sometimes the best coffee can be made with equipment that doesn't have to cost a lot.

2. Use good beans, filtered water and invest in a small grinder to grind your beans fresh every time.

3. I like to make coffee at home with a simple pour over cone that you can find in most coffee shops and kitchen supply stores. Grind the coffee, heat the water, pour through the filtered cone and you are done. There's tons of techniques and tips online, but it is a really simple way to make a great cup.

4. Also, ask your barista for brewing tips. They love to share what they've learned. 

Coffee Making Tool | Bonavita Electric Water Kettle

My new favorite home tool is the Bonavita electric water kettle. It costs about $50 and heats the water like any other kettle, but it has a long curved spout that allows you more control when pouring your water giving you more control over your coffee extraction.

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Morning vs. Afternoon Coffee

I'm a brewed coffee in the morning, cappuccino in the afternoon kind of guy. The sweetness of the milk in the cappuccino makes a great afternoon treat.

Online Coffee Resources

Amazon (www.Amazon.com)

I find that Amazon carries most of what you need, but there are some great specialized sites that have a deeper selection.

Espresso Parts (www.espressoparts.com)

It’s a staple for all things coffee and cafe equipment.  

Whole Latte Love (www.wholelattelove.com)

For the home coffee nerd, as they have a really broad selection of home espresso machines with tons of information and reviews.  

Sweet Marias (www.sweetmarias.com)

It’s great for the home roaster wannabe. 

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Barista’s Recs | Atlanta, GA

Find | Coffee Gear

Cooks Warehouse

They have a pretty large selection of coffee gear.  

Dancing Goats

They carry a pretty good selection of home gear and supplies.  Your local barista is probably your best source for what you need and where to get it.

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Drink | Coffee

Holeman and Finch

I really admire the folks at Holeman and Finch for creating an amazing culture through quality, style, and just all around great people. We strive to create coffee, cocktail, and beer fanatics by creating a memorable experience and giving them something to talk about to their friends. We try to do the right thing through a combination of quality product, skilled staff, and creating a fun environment.  

Steady Hand Pour House

One of my favorites. I like what they’re doing  in Emory Village

Condesa

It’s great and one of my favorite local coffee places.

Dancing Goats

I also recommend Dancing Goats.

Empire State South

They’re doing amazing things by creating a full service coffee shop inside the restaurant in midtown.

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Recommendations

Details of Tony Riffel’s recommendations on where to eat, drink and shop in Atlanta, GA.

City Guides

- Atlanta City Guide: Download